Erin Kilkenny, a member of The New Hampshire Youth Movement, sat outside the Memorial Union Building (MUB) asking students to vote, as early as 6:30 a.m. on Nov. 5, urging them to participate in the presidential election.
Kilkenny was previously involved in the 2022 midterm election, not with NHYM but as a resident assistant at the University of New Hampshire. She informed people about the election and how to register.
“I had the civic officer come and help get students registered and show how it’s just as important to vote in midterms and in presidential elections,” said Kilkenny.
Kilkenny stated, “Nobody even knew there was an election [during the midterms], nobody knew what the midterm was.” Kilkenny has been canvassing for the election since September and this election’s turnout is looking a lot better.
“Everyone we have talked to today has either voted or is planning to vote,” Kilkenny said. “It is just a different atmosphere.”
On the whole, Kilkenny’s experience was better compared to the midterms.
“It was positive overall, most students are out of state and didn’t even know they could vote here,” said Kilkenny. “I feel lucky to be doing it, it’s people’s right to vote. People are really welcoming and excited to talk.” Kilkenny talked to around 1,000 people and students and almost all said they had voted or were planning to vote.
“I’m excited to see it,” said Kilkenny.“It’s nice to see young people coming. Politicians can see we are coming out and want to be a part of it.”
Matthew Stern, who was tabling outside the MUB for NHYM, had also been outside since 6:30 a.m. that morning helping assist students to the polls.
“A lot of people have been excited to vote,” said Stern, who is working the rides for the election for the first time. “We are trying to get people to the polls. People have seemed generally excited.”
“People have been generally excited to vote,” said Stern. “Many volunteers from local parties and from other community organizations are coming out to drive people to the polls.”
Warren Daniel, a driver for the New Hampshire Democratic Party, has been driving since 1 p.m. and drove over 250 students on Tuesday. He has been driving students to the polls for many years and noticed that the students had more enthusiasm.
“Interacting with the student population and understanding what their issues are… (Students) are asking questions since they were first-time voters and of course, many were first-time presidential voters,” said Daniel
Daniel is “tentatively hopeful” about this election, he remembered the 2016 election and how that negatively impacted the democratic party, despite this, he is still “mildly optimistic.”
Daniel said he is more than willing to drive students to the polls again. “I’ll do it till I can,” Daniel said, “The interaction with the students is my favorite part. I love interacting with young people and the enthusiasm that I feel.”
